Three games in and something of a crisis is brewing at West Ham United. A win in the Carling Cup, a draw last week and a loss yesterday from a club tipped for promotion is pretty mediocre but is is the manner of those three games that is so concerning.
The Championship is a division renown to be tough to get out of, each side scrapping like mad for every point.
And that’s the problem.
BBC’s Aaron Mclean, a former Championship striker, hit the nail on the head with his criticism of the Hammers’ approach to the season:
“Today was a real test against an established Championship team who will fight for every ball. I know West Ham missed a penalty to get a point, but if you are West Ham at home in front of 62,000, you shouldn’t need a penalty to try to salvage something.
“There needs to be huge improvements in the mentality and maybe the personnel if West Ham hope to have a good season.”
Thirty five games into Nuno’s reign and still a huge improvement in mentality required?
After almost a full season of fixtures, Nuno should be having the Hammers humming like a well tuned engine by now instead of still hunting for a winning formula, playing key players out of position and groping around for post-game excuses.
As we’ve already seen, bringing in new players achieves zero if there’s no fight, no leadership on, or off the pitch and no plan to play to the key strengths of the players at his disposal.
Endless square pegs being shoved in round holes suggests that, even with a couple of centre back additions before the end of the window, Nuno will struggle to lead the dressing room to a place where the players are ready to fight for him.
Interesting to see Alan Irvine sat next to David Moyes as Everton won in the Premier League yet again. Seems that David Moyes has the backroom staff that he wants and needs to get the best from his team of players at the moment.
We do not appear to have anyone helping Nuno Espirito Santos. Surely it would be a shrewd investment to get some committed motivators on board and working effectively in the background.
We have a couple of stalwarts seemingly producing the same old stuff that got us where we are now. Maybe get the likes of Sean Dyche and Scott Parker to assist us on the training ground. Probably more Dyche than Parker – but you know what I mean.
£5 million a year very well spent.
These guys are out there. Diamonds from lower leagues. Let’s get them in.
COYI
Did you mean Milk Cup Martin?
In the short term Soucek will return. He is committed to the club and as many have mentioned has that Bonzo attitude. Make him Vice Captain with leadership responsibilities. We need progress now.
Maciavelli was right again. We “put our faith in mercinaries”
Just want to say 3 names.
Scott Parker
Eddie Howe
Thomas Frank.
All out of work!
At least they seem to be able to motivate the players!
Keiran Mckenna
There is only one place to look if you have no discipline no shape, no speed, no plans. The Manager. Nuno has to go.
Who should take over ? There is a lot of talk about a lot of Managers who take ages to build a team like Howe. There is only one Manager who changes a team and makes them win and work in one season and that is Sean Dyche. Ask yourself who is the most successful at getting a club promoted in one season ? Who can take chaos and make it order and Dyche is the only name left ? Come on Board, hold the meeting and bring the man in, love him or hate him, he is the medicine the club needs.
Short of starting a petition to get Nuno out, there’s not much more you can say really, Martin. You any good at petitions?
Is anyone gonna say it…things improved after Paco arrived. We’ve gone back to how it was before now he’s gone.
I agree. Don’t know if he’s got a job yet but he’d be my choice. Also Thomas Frank or Dyche.
West waited and waited for Disasi, had 25million ready for that deal, no plan B.
Yes this is on Nuno, but what is the point of Koppen?
Your right we are a shambles
Lots of new players in the team..
Only a blind person cannot see that ;-))
Will take some time to gel..
3 new players, hardly a lot and that has nothing to do with Nuno’s tactics which are a continuation of last season. He will not get us promoted
The question is who is in charge in the boardroom I.e. Who has the power to change the manager?